WA State Auditor Announces:
The Effect of Public Records Requests on Government
The
Washington State Auditor's Office published a report that identifies the
volume and nature of public records requests state and local governments
receive, and the costs they incur fulfilling them. Washington’s Public
Records Act (PRA) guarantees the public broad access to government records
to foster sound governance. Interactions with governments during this
project showed their commitment to the principles of open, accessible and
accountable government. However, a changing public records environment and
a PRA that has not kept pace with present-day issues pose challenges that,
if not addressed, may undermine the original intent of public records laws
and hinder other essential government services.
They found
that people today make more and increasingly complex requests for records,
which absorbs significant government resources. The state and local
governments that responded to the statewide survey reported spending more
than $60 million to fulfill more than 285,000 public records requests in
the most recent year alone. Requesters pay only a small portion of the
costs (less than 1 percent) involved in fulfilling public records requests.
Their
research showed that a combination of statewide policy changes and better
information management and disclosure practices is needed to keep pace with
changing times. They identified policies the Legislature can consider to
address public records issues. They also identified practical solutions
that can help state and local governments continue to improve their records
management and disclosure processes.
The
Washington State Auditor's office welcomes comments and suggestions for
future reports. You will find this report and related materials here or at their website www.sao.wa.gov.
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